River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-06

Brought up to Help Herself.
1t was the first time she had ever
travelled alone. and all the family came
down TO the station to see her off.
Nov, Pheeb,' said her father as he
helped her on, don't let any of them
young fellers come foolin' roun'; mind
what me an your mother has allus
told you. an don't have nothin' to say
to strangers.
Il won't father, chirruped Phoebe.
where's tho box with my best hat?
And the bag with the dried raspberries
for Jim's wife? 0, where's the poor
little catP''
Here she be-" said the mother,
showing upwith the rest of Phebe's be-
longings, ''and here's the six pairs of
stockings | knit Reuben, and the yarn
towels, and the"
"All aboardr' yelled the conductor.
"Good-by, Pheeb! Don't forget the
new cheese in the hand basket Tell
Jim's wife TO send me the racket for
dyeing cotton yarn a primrose cast.
Take keer Of Kitty. an be sure
am"
''Good-by, Pheeb! Don't make
no 'quaintances with ennybody. As
your gran father used to say, the
Lord helps them as helps themselves. "
There was a lot of them-brothers
sisters and cousins-who watched us
until the train and ''Pheeb" were out
of sight. Then the young traveller
settled down to business. And we ali
watched her. for she was very pretty
girl.
First she heaped all her things in the
seat facing her. Then she concluded
to put some of them in the bracket
above.
"Allow me, said the spruce travel
ing man with MASKING smile
THANK you," said Phoebe coolly,
''it's kind of inconvenient going any
where alone.
'Going far?'' asked the travelling
man rs he satdown, and we all glanced
at him with envy.
"Only to visit my brother Jim in
Newton Centre. l get there after dark,
though. and am awfully afraid they
won't meet me.
'I'm going that way myself" haz-
arded the untruthful travelling man.
why how nice! | wouldn't be a bit
afraid of you"
'Mew! new! newt" came from a
remote corner of the car. Miss Ph9be
made dive for her kittens basket.
20, won't somebody catch the kitty
for me? o, dear, it viii be lost, and
its a real Maltese. O, where's the com
ductorP Won't somebody please ring
for him?"
We alf started to hunt the wicked
kitten, while its excited mistress pulled
the bell-cord and stopped the train.
When peace was restored, and four
travelling men had returned the kitten
to its owner. the conductor seated HIM
self by Miss Phoebe to explain that a
passenger must never under any cir
cumstances touch the bell-cord.
Meanwhile all the onerous duties of
answering questions and reassuring
frightened old women devolved on the
brakeman.
Then the boy with peanuts came in
and she shared him into getting some
milk for kitty from the restaurant-car.
The book fiend dropped an armful of
burning novels into the seat at last left
vacant by the conductor.
s'Have you How He Won Her or
Love on Rail-Car' Pr she asked sweet
ly.
He sat down to explain that he was
just out of that, but had divorced at
Sight, or "a Romance of Chicago"
Then the only man in the car who
had not been down on his knees, cold.
naughty. soulless man. with n cynical
sneer, opened his valise and handed her
''How He Won Her.
When the train reached Newton Cen
tire the young lady left it, followed by
meek and submissive crowd. The con
ductor carried the cat. The brakeman
had the satchel. The rest of her lug
gage was apportioned to the male pas
sengers, each of whom received sweet
smile and cordial "good Bye as
Brother Jim hove in sight to claim his
fair relative. As we scrambled back to
our train we heard Jim ask: How in
the world, Phebe, did you get along
with all these trapsp"
And her musical laugh rs she an
swered:
90, you know, Jim, father brought
us up to help ourselves. Detroit Free
Press